Media Release, Catalyst Paper, Cowichan Tribes, CVRD, September 28 2016
Global Climate Change Impacting Cowichan Valley: 20 High-volume Pumps to
Keep Cowichan River from Running Dry by Moving Water from Cowichan Lake
Media invited to view commissioning of operation that will pump six Olympic-sized swimming pools of water per hour, speak with local leaders on long-term solutions needed before it’s too late
COWICHAN LAKE, B.C. – On Thursday, September 29, 2016, media are invited to join the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), the Cowichan Tribes, Catalyst Paper and other local stakeholders when 20 high-volume water pumps will be commissioned to pump water from Cowichan Lake into the Cowichan River to maintain its flow and protect fish and fish habitat along with civic, agricultural and industrial water uses.
The Cowichan River – the lifeblood of the Cowichan Valley – is a precious and critical resource for fish, wildlife and the communities that depend on it. With climate change and eight droughts in the past 20 years, the weir at the head of the Cowichan River no longer stores enough water to keep the river running in the summer and fall, which has necessitated the pumping operation. While the pumping operation is necessary to keep the river from running dry, it is a short term solution that underscores the need for a more collaborative management regime involving all levels of government.
Details for this event are below, and RSVPs are requested prior to the event.
WHAT: Commissioning of pumps to move water from Cowichan Lake into the Cowichan River. Event will include:
- Visuals of pumping being conducted with approximately 20 installed pumps (media welcome to capture b-roll and photos)
- Remarks by, and interviews with, leaders from CVRD, Cowichan Tribes and Catalyst Paper
WHO: Media are invited to join the Cowichan Valley Regional District, Cowichan Tribes, Catalyst Paper Corporation and local community groups
WHEN: Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. PDT
WHERE: 300 North Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan, British Columbia
Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/b4WwPXuVh5p
RSVP: Please RSVP to Linda Nishida at [email protected] or 604-691-7394
About Cowichan Valley Regional District
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is one of 27 regional districts in British Columbia. It is comprised of nine electoral areas and four municipalities in the southern part of Vancouver Island. With a population of over 80,000 residents it covers a land area of 3,473.12 km².
About Cowichan Tribes First Nation
Cowichan Tribes is the largest single First Nation Band in British Columbia with over 4,800 members. The nation’s traditional territory of approximately 900,000 acres includes the regions of Cowichan Lake, the Cowichan and Koksilah River drainages, the regions around Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay, Shawnigan Lake, the southern Gulf Islands, as well as areas on the mainland. Cowichan traditional main winter villages included. Clemclemalits (Lhumlhumuluts'), Comiakin (Qw'umiyiqun'), Khenipsen (Xinupsum), Kilpahlas (Tl'ulpalus), Koksilah (Xwulqw'selu), Quamichan (Kwa'mutsun), Somenos (S-amuna') and Taitka (T'aa'ka). Today Cowichan Tribes sits on 5,903 acres, comprised of nine Reservations.
About Catalyst Paper
Catalyst Paper manufactures diverse printing papers such as coated freesheet, coated one side (C1S), coated and uncoated groundwood, newsprint, directory, as well as market pulp. Customers include retailers, publishers and commercial printers in North America, Latin America, the Pacific Rim and Europe. With five mills across North America, Catalyst has annual production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes. Catalyst is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, and has been ranked by Corporate Knights magazine for the 10th consecutive year as one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada.
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Editors: if your team is unable to attend the media event in person, a news release and b-roll footage (with shots of weir, pump and media conference) can be available following the event.
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